What's New

The Fisheries division is publishing a series of posts on the OECD Insights Blog to make the concepts and policies of global fisheries policy more accessible. Read the first post on Managing expectations in fisheries.

The OECD Fisheries Committee, Development Assistance Committee, UNFAO and World Bank hosted a joint session on policy coherence for development in fisheries and aquaculture. Download all of the presentations and briefing materials now.

This publication analyses the issues and challenges governments face as they develop and implement plans to rebuild fisheries. The focus is on the economic and institutional issues and builds on evidence from OECD fisheries.

Aquaculture Global demand for fish is rising, but there are limited possibilities of increasing production from capture fisheries. Aquaculture now provides more than 50% of the global supply of fisheries products for direct human consumption. In this context, the aquaculture sector is seen as an increasingly important supplier of healthy, high quality seafood.

Climate Change and Fisheries Climate change will affect fish and their habitats. Warmer temperatures will influence the abundance, migratory patterns and mortality rates of wild fish stocks and determine what species can be farmed in certain regions.These climatic effects on fish will have social and economic consequences for people dependent on fisheries and aquaculture.

Globalisation and Fisheries Global markets for fish and fish products have changed considerably over the past few decades and continue to do so, with ever growing interactions across countries and continents. Change has brought substantial benefits to the world economy and a number of policy challenges for governments.

Certification Fish sellers and consumers are increasingly looking for assurances that the food they buy has been sustainably produced. Some private eco-labels and certification schemes have been established to meet consumer demand for information while helping fishers and processors to reassure their markets.

Economics of Rebuilding Fisheries Many commercial fisheries are characterised by too many fishers (and vessels) chasing too few fish. Central to addressing the situation of overfished and depleted stocks is the establishment of responsible fisheries policies and management systems, within a broader marine ecosystem context.

Recreational FisheriesRecreational fishing is a popular pastime in many countries. In salt or fresh water, recreational anglers use a number of traditional fishing techniques, from pole-and-line to nets to traps. While direct value-added of recreational fishing is small compared to commercial fishing, the amount of economic activity generated by recreational fishing can be large. The impact of this activity on rural communities where recreational fishing takes place can be important.